This popular idea is based on a false thesis of ancient convergence.
Really disagree with the claim that Rome was this decentralized prior to Diocletian... I recommend this article on the Rome vs China comparison https://web.archive.org/web/20220129211536/https://www.princeton.edu/~pswpc/pdfs/scheidel/110702.pdf
Really disagree with the claim that Rome was this decentralized prior to Diocletian... I recommend this article on the Rome vs China comparison https://web.archive.org/web/20220129211536/https://www.princeton.edu/~pswpc/pdfs/scheidel/110702.pdf